At a time when political change seems to come in dramatic fits and waves, what happened last weekend seemed rather low-key by comparison. Fort Worth’s mayor of a decade said goodbye to her job (although not necessarily to her political future – more on that below.) In her wake, she left a runoff for the new top post in the nation’s 13th largest city. Then there was the ballot proposition in Austin approving a ban on camping in public spaces, widely seen as a rebuke to city council’s recent move decriminalizing encampments by people experiencing homelessness. In San Antonio, a referendum to repeal the San Antonio Police Officers Association’s right to collective bargaining lost by a narrow margin , in a race its opponents characterized as a backdoor attempt to “defund the police”. Meanwhile, in North Texas’ increasingly diverse 6th congressional district (which has been without representation since the February death of Republican Ron Wright following a COVID-19 diagnosis), two Republicans emerged from a crowded field for a runoff. Leading the pack: Wright’s widow, who had won an endorsement from Donald Trump just days before the vote. Though seemingly disparate events separated by the specifics of each contest, it’s difficult not to try to squint a bit to discern the outlines of where Texas stands politically. After all, the Lone Star State is preparing to enter a new political season that includes a gubernatorial contest next year. And that race will likely be seen as a referendum on leadership during a pandemic and this year's massive power outages, all amid major political shifts at the national level. As you get caught up on some of these stories below, we invite you to let us know how you see the politics of Texas evolving during this time of enormous change. Your comments are more than welcome: your insights help guide us as we continue to cover these and other events that add up to the ever-changing story of Texas. Until next Wednesday, we’ll see you on the radio.

- David Brown

Work safe, Texas. Texas Work Comp Insurance

The Special Election That Could Forecast Trump’s Influence In Texas

Two Republicans move to a runoff in the race to represent Texas’ 6th Congressional District in the southeast Dallas-Fort Worth area.

In Big Bend, One Of The Biggest Fires In Decades Is Contained But Still Burning

The South Rim fire burned about 1,300 acres in Big Bend National Park’s Chisos Basin. It closed down several trails, a campsite and other attractions to visitors.

What Betsy Price Learned As Fort Worth’s Longest-Serving Mayor

Price spoke with Texas Standard about her handling of police violence against Black citizens, the city’s fight against COVID-19 and to offer some advice for her successor.

A Dallas Food Critic Spent The Pandemic Traveling The World In Her Kitchen

Now, former Dallas Morning News restaurant reviewer Leslie Brenner and her Cooks Without Borders website is nominated for a prestigious Webby award.

How Transgender Youth Health Care Bills Also Target Intersex Kids In Texas (Houston Public Media)
Bill To Prevent Texas Cities From Banning Natural Gas Heads To Governor’s Desk (KUT Austin)
San Antonio Plans Its Hottest Party Yet — Fiesta In Mid-June (Texas Public Radio)
Dallas City Council Signs Off On New 'Violence Interrupter' Initiative To Reduce Crime (KERA North Texas)

Howdy, I’m Travis Bubenik with Marfa Public Radio , where I host our afternoon news programming and report on the Big Bend region. Our tiny-yet-award-winning station is the NPR affiliate for hundreds of square miles across rural West Texas, from the borderlands to the Permian Basin oilfields. If you’ve ever been out here, you know how beautiful and entrancing this region is. (West Texas is Best Texas, as they say!) But it’s not all sunshine and daisies. In rural Texas, healthcare access is always a struggle, jobs can be hard to come by and the ups-and-downs of the oilfield make it hard for some communities and families to plan for the long-term. My job involves reporting on tough issues like those, but also highlighting the overall magic of Far West Texas and the unique people who live here. I love hearing from listeners. If you have a news tip, or just want to chat about something related to the Big Bend region, give me a holler anytime at [email protected] or just hit me up on Twitter!

- Travis Bubenik

@travisbubenik

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